Announcements

When fires destroyed homes in Victoria earlier this term several families from Plenty Valley Christian College in Doreen were affected. Covenant Christian School community responded by raising fund by selling flowers for Valentines Day and a book stall. This week the school received the following letter of thanks.

I write in appreciation of your generous support for Plenty Valley Christian College families and staff who were directly affected by the bushfires in February.

Our College is in awe of the support that has been offered by the Christian and wider communities of Australia.

There is more to do by way of assistance for families who lost so much and have experienced deep levels of trauma. Your involvement and generousity of spirit has ensured our delivery of practical and meaningful assistance to those in need within the College community. We appreciate your contribution and thank you in all sincerity.

Our College community has come together in the face of adveristy. Many others have joined with you in bringing about a healing process that will take some time. We look forward to the futre under the grace of God.

With kind regards

Douglas Peck
31 March 2009

The Junior School Council organised a Book Swap to support fellow Christian Schools in Victoria. There were two ways to help. As we did last year, the school asked for donations of secondhand but well cared for children's books. These books were sold for between 50 cents and $5.00. Throughout the day Teachers took children in class groups and assisted them with their purchases. Children who brought in books for sale or donation were given one voucher to allow them first choice of the "For Sale" books.

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The second way the school is helping is through a direct donation of books to Christian Schools in Victoria. These books were either new, or used but in excellent condition.

A BIG thank you to Mr Groves and his class for all their help. Thank you also to parents who served on the stall and all who supported the Book sale particularly to infants and transition teachers who had to deal with tears and fears of lost money etc.. The Junior School Community raised $1013.75 with still a little more money coming in.

The donated books have already been sent to Victoria and the money will be sent as a cheque to Plenty Valley Christian School to assist the families who lost houses in the fires.

Covenant Christian School is a member of Christian Education National (CEN). The recent bushfires in Victoria have seen a dramatic outpouring of generousity around the nation. Covenant's response was donating money raised by selling of flowers for Valentines Day. Many of the schools in CEN have found creative ways to raise funds.  We hope you find these reports encouraging.

LAUNCESTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Launceston Christian School responded by sending Plenty Valley Christian College $8,000 as a result of a fundraising day.  We also collected half a room full of new and near new clothing and partnered with a local removal company who offered to courier this to Plenty Valley Christian College free of charge. More funds are coming in through donations and we continue to pray for the communities affected by the fires.

BAYSIDE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Bayside Christian College students held a Free Dress Day last Thursday and raised over $3000 to go towards the bushfire victims.

BLUE MOUNTAINS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
At Blue Mountains Christian School our kids had a mufti day last Friday - 120 kids raised $800

KUYPER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
The students at Kuyper were showing what Christian leadership is really about by sending the principal a letter identifying the need and a desire to respond in a loving way to help improve the situation of the fires in Victoria. The end result was that we did hold a non-school uniform day and raised $1000, not bad for a small school.

DUBBO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Today Dubbo Christian School had a 'Mufti' day to raise money for the appeal.  We have raised appoximately $1600 today.  Buscuits have been baked to go on a truck leaving Dubbo to go down to Victoria. Our intention is to be involved with some other ideas driven by a student committee.

ORANGE AND BATHURST CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
Orange and Bathurst Christian Schools responded in several ways. We invited students and families to donate new or good clean items of clothing or household goods and we gave them to a local trucking firm, Tynan Transport, that took them south free of charge. We encouraged people to donate, and lots did. The Student Service Committee raised $173.00 and donated that to the appeal. Primary students were asked to think about and pray for the people affected by the fire, and then to write letters to the children whose schools were burned down. We will then find an address to mail those letters. We were particularly impressed by the generosity of families that basically went through parts of their house and bought a duplicate of everything, for example, what do you need for a family bathroom – towels, toiletries etc.

ANNANDALE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Annandale Christian School held a Coloured Clothes (Free Dress) Day on Friday 13th February and students each donated a gold coin to assist those who have suffered loss through the bush fire tragedy.  This event was part of a Townsville-wide school-based appeal which encouraged all schools (from State, Catholic, Christian and Independent sectors) to give generously towards the Red Cross Bush Fire Appeal. Annandale gave over $900.  We are also keen to specifically help Plenty Valley Christian School in a practical way and our staff and students have been praying reguarly for them.

BEECHBORO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Beechboro Christian School. Last Friday we had a “Wear Red for Red Cross” day and raised close to $2000.For the next two weeks our school is having an afternoon “Car Wash” and already we have had to turn away willing customers.People are very willing to support activities that will help the Victorian Bush Fire Victims so I think that by the end of two weeks we will have raised considerably more.

HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
A Plenty Valley Christian School Bushfire Appeal has been set up for our school community to contribute to. To date we have raised $1800.

This is just a snapshot of what some CEN schools are doing. To read more examples from other school, plus updates click here.

This year Covenant Christian School was once again involved in Operation Christmas Child. This project seeks to provide aid in a small but practical way to help many children who are victims of poverty, natural disasters, war and conflict. The idea is to fill a shoe box with goodies for the children which will be collected and shipped off  for delivery to them at Christmas.

As these boxes are delivered, in many countries, there is also the opportunity to share with them the most important gift of all, the message of God’s love through Jesus.  Christian literature is placed in each box in the child’s own language.

The Covenant Community collected over 130 boxes which is amazing for a school of just over 400 families. Money was also raised and donated to cover the postage of these boxes.

This year the boxes from NSW children will be sent to children living in Thailand and Vietnam. Other States will send to designated countries such as Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, The Solomons and Fiji.

Thank you to everyone who took part.

Robyn Watson

Several guys in Year 10 home class have sponsored Mr Muddle on his quest for Movember this year.  Movember is a wonderful celebration of the great moustaches that were very prominent in 1980’s cops shows, but make fewer appearances these days.

Here is Mr Muddle's latest report... "We are starting to see some pretty well-established Mo’s and we just about at the half-way point of the month of Movember. If you haven’t noticed these somewhat suspicious-looking fellows, please take a closer look at Mr Green, Mr Hill, Mr Cipollone, Mr Groves, Ben Zalai in Yr 12, and myself (any of whom would not be out of place in an NYPD uniform).

I am hoping Max will arrive on Monday minus the goa-tee and be a truly official contender. Notable mentions to fallen comrades Neil Pierson and Al James, who began the quest but gave up due to itchiness, possible ridicule or perhaps to keep one’s spouse happy!  There will be a shaving ceremony on Monday December 1 at school. A time when our wives will be happy to see the end of the facial hair festival that is Movember. If you would like to donate some money to this wonderful cause (raising money and awareness for Men’s Health issues, in particular Depression and Prostate Cancer), you can see one of us or go to the Movember website. http://www.movember.com

Students and staff will have an opportunity late in the November to vote on the "Mo of the Year". If you have any other suggestions as to who any of us might look like, then drop me a line.

Thanks, and please try to take us seriously.

Pete Muddle

This year in addition to the funds raised through students who participate in the 40 hour famine, we are holding a few fund raising activities. Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 overall which would help 3,000 children for a month or 250 children for a year! The activities will be held over the next couple of weeks and include:

Biscuits Are Here:
Covenant’s inaugural Biscuit Appreciation Society will be making homemade biscuits to delight our taste buds. These will be sold on Wednesday 10th September from 9.30-11am near Café Covie and are available for secondary students, parents and staff to purchase.

Mess With Your Head:
On Friday 12th September the whole school is encouraged to wear a crazy hat, beanie, wig or do something fun with their hair (no colouring or dye please). We are asking students who participate to bring a gold coin donation.

BBQ of all BBQ’s:
On Wednesday 17th September secondary students can feast on mouth watering sausage sandwiches which will be on sale at lunch.

It is so encouraging to see so many of our students concerned for children, like themselves, yet living in poverty and want to do something about it. Our grateful thanks go to all students and families who have helped and participated in the 40 hour famine this year.

Mrs Deb Redwood
40 Hour Famine Group Leader

At Secondary assembly today 4 Year 11 students spoke about the 40 Hour Famine, which is on this weekend. The students watched a 2 minute video about the "terrible" condition of young people in Australia being forced to attend compulsory school. The message was very clever. You can watch it here.

Finances raised will be going towards India. The focus this year is on child labour, trafficking and slavery which involve 45 million children every day in India; worldwide it is over 200 million. Every day children are denied rights that many children in Australia have and sometimes take for granted: food, clothing, education, being able to play, healthcare. 

Vanessa Simmonds reminded students that the famine is on this weekend but that students can do it at other times and that they can go without food, furniture, ipod, mobile and so on; she shared that she is going without talking as that is something really important to her! Eloise Boutry let students know that they can still receive a book and to keep collecting sponsors, even after they have completed the famine. Jess Irwin shared that we raised a whopping $11,000 last year.

Our target this year is $15,000 with Mr Wright promising he would dress up as “Where’s Wally” if this is reached. Finally Caitlin Clarke announced that in addition to students getting sponsors we would also be having two fund raising activities and that they needed to ‘stay tuned’ for details which were exclusive at present.

It is so encouraging to see children at Covenant not only concerned about but being willing to do something about the lives of children in India.

Covenant is once again encouraging our families to be a part of Operation Christmas Child. This is a wonderful project to be involved in, as it helps children who are victims of poverty, natural disasters, war and conflict. This project seeks to provide aid in a small but practical way.
Since 1993, this Samaritan’s Purse Project has shared the Good News of God’s love with hurting children through the simplest of gifts - shoe boxes!
Watch the video at http://www.samaritanspurse.org.au/occ_08_index.shtml

The idea is to fill a shoe box with the “5 Somethings”:
1. Something to love
2. Something to play with
3. Something to write with
4. Something for personal hygiene
5. Something to wear.
Please note that we can no longer put food items or toothpaste into the boxes.
When the boxes are full, students are to put them under the Christmas tree located between the junior and senior libraries. Students may also like to put a photo or drawing inside the box. Christian literature is placed in the boxes in the child’s own language. As these boxes are delivered in many countries, there will also be the opportunity to share with them the most important gift of all, the message of God’s love through Jesus.
Donations of $8 per box for postage and handling are greatly appreciated and are to be brought to the front office in an envelope marked Operation Christmas Child. Please do not put money in the boxes.
The boxes will be picked up in Week 9 of Term 3 by Samaritan’s Purse and shipped to areas of need.
It’s not too late to be involved! Let’s get into the Christmas Spirit of giving!

Mrs Bickell, Mrs Holman nad Mrs Watson, Operation Christmas Child Coordinators

This year Covenant took part in the Bible League of Australia “Run for Bibles” to raise money to buy Bibles for Christians in other parts of the world using our school Cross Country as the vehicle to raise money.

Having not been involved in a program like this before, it was unsure how it would be received by the students and wider community. Over the past 4–5 weeks it has been incredibly satisfying to see that a large number of our students (and teachers) took this challenge seriously. So far our total amount of money raised is $3,100 – that is 442 Bibles that can be purchased. As Covenant has a connection with Mission in China through Mrs Margaret Rockwell (former Science and ESL teacher), who is currently serving there as a missionary, we thought that we would nominate for our money to go to the Christians there.

It is very encouraging to know that we as a community see something like this as worthwhile and even more satisfying knowing that, as a result of our students, staff and community, we are enriching the lives of Christians in different parts of the world!

The Salvation Army was thrilled to receive more than twenty Christmas food hampers put together by the Year 7 Home Classes.

Thank you for your generous donations of food items and toys. 
Well done, Year 7! 

Mrs Meredith Knowles, Middle Section Coordinator